With the first proponent for Melfort’s first legal cannabis store out of the picture, the SLGA says the next in line will get their chance.

Corey Bacon, Rhonda Bacon and Curtis Hope are the runners up, said SLGA spokesperson David Morris.

“The proponent for the cannabis retail store in Melfort withdrew his application for the store earlier this year,” Morris said in an email. “As part of the initial selection process, SLGA established a ‘runner up’ list of two proponents per available permit, to be used only if the initial proponent selected was ineligible or withdrew from the process.”

Proponents are given about 16 months from the time they were notified of the chance to apply for a permit to open their store.

Runners up must also go through the full SLGA permitting process, such as filling out and submitting the paperwork and passing a good character check.

In the northeast area, Tweed has opened in Humboldt and Homestead Cannabis is operating in Tisdale.

Nipawin’s proponent ( a joint venture between GTEC, a BC-based company and Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc) is still moving through the permit process, Morris said.

The physical location in Nipawin went through some renovations last year and once open, they hope to employ five or six people, GTEC has said in previous interviews.